Choker for trapped animals



July 27, 1948. M. E. CHURCHILL 7 7 CHOKER FOR TRAPPED ANIMALS Filed Aug.14, 1946 M zventor .(Ittomegs onthe extremity of a pole or handle. L 3

Other objects and advantages will be revealed Patented July 27, 1948oHoKEn FOR TRAPfEb Merton E. Churchill. Arcadia, Ia.

. This invention relates to the trappingand execution of fur bearinganimals, whereby a trapped animal may be executed-by a mechanical devicewithout damaging the pelt. i 7

It is an object of m invention to execute a trapped animal in a minimumof time by mechanical strangulation, thereby retaining a completeunpunctured uninjured fur or pelt.

It is more particularly an object of my invention to provide twosuitably curved spring actufor'mto f a casing and i-sprovided 1withi'ront andrear'wallsz and 3, a slottedtop andrt y w t .Th'ejaws. aandf9 constituting curved ievr or ated jaws or levers mounted withportions thereof including the actuators within a supporting casingfi-ncombination with a releasable setting means or trigger, said mechanismbeing mounted in the detailed description of the drawings which form apart of my specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view as seen from the front of the device,the jaws being latched in a set position ready for releasing.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing the jawslatched in open position with the actuating springs under tension.

Figure 3 is a similar View with the jaws partly closed as they appearwhen engaged around the neck of a trapped animal, shown in dotted lines,the springs being in a position of intermediate tension.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line P l of Fig. 1 showing theouter ends of the jaws in section and the housing in plan.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the casing showing the jawlatching and trigger release in section thereon as they appear persection line fi -5 on Fig. 4.

The drawing is illustrative of a preferred form of my invention and isnot definitive thereof except so far as claimed herein.

The reference characters identify the essential parts of the inventionin both the drawings and written description.

In carrying out my invention I provide an instrument particularlyadapted for use in killing trapped animals, humane extinction of lifebeing accomplished by choking the animal by clamping the neck betweentwo curved jaws pivoted to move in intersecting paths. These jaws arespring actuated and when set in open or operative position are locked bya trigger mechanism which is released automatically when the instrumentis brought into contact with th neck of an animal.

The instrument comprises a frame portion l the first class arefulcrumed' in opposed. relation on a common pivot such aspin. Ii]carried at its ends inthe walls rand 3 of the casing. g f

. A i one side of the top wall A there-is a bracket ll securedfbylriyets I l parallel to" the plane of movement ofthe jaws 8 and 9, ateachfendof which are a pair of outwardly projectingea'rs fl 2 and" i3carrying capt v slidingllatc'h p ns 14 and I5. The latter serve.tolsecure the jaws? hen they are 1 set in open position and are.disengaged by'the releasing means or trigger l6. Thise'lement is formedas a bell crank lever pivoted against the edge or shoulder of the top 4and has a broad end or plate I1 connected to the outer ends of the latchpins I4I5 which hold it in operative position on the casing. Extendingoutwardly from the center of the lower edge of the plate I! is thereleasing trigger comprising an offset portion l8 terminating in alateral projection l9 adapted to be engaged with the trapped animal inthe vicinity of its spine and shoulders so that when pressure is appliedto it the retaining pins will be retracted to release the jaws 8 and 9.i

The top wall 4 of the casing is provided with a longitudina1 slot 20 theopposing edges of which form guides for the jaws 8 and 9 which operatein the manner of scissors or shears. Connected to the short arms or endsof the jaws within the casing are tension springs 23 and 24 the oppositeends of which are articulately anchored on trans- Versely arranged pins25 and 26 located within the casing at each end thereof.

For conveniently handling the instrument I mount it on the extremity ofa pole Z5 and attach it to the casing by a threaded stud 26 on thebottom 5. In order to add to the rigidity of the parts I preferablymount the stud 26 on a U- shaped bracket which spans the bottom 5 andhas the ears 21 riveted to the front wall 2- and the rear wall 3 of thecasing. The pole or handle 25 is of suitable length. For example if asilver fox is caught in a trap having an anchor chain the fox would havea considerable range of movement substantially twice the length of thechain. Hence the handle should be long enough so that the operator ofthe mechanical executor may keep beyond the reach of any vicious trappedanimal.

When it is desired: to set the device it is merely 3 4 necessary toforce the curved jaws 8 and 9 apart arms toward each other, and asetting and efar enough so that the captive pins l4 and may leasingmeans located on the frame. engage over the inner edges of the jaws toretain 2. A choker for trapped animals as set forth in them in openposition against the tension of their claim 1, in which the setting andreleasing means respective springs 23 and 24. When in this set 5 ismounted in a bracket secured to the frame in a position the trigger I9is in the full line position position parallel to said long arms, saidframe of Fig. 5. The operator upon approaching the having guides at itsends, latch pins slidably trapped animal holds the device in a suitabledemounted in said guides having free ends movable pending position-ttoabiing therjaws -over the back into and out of the path of said long arms,and a of the neck ofgthe animal so thattthelateralpro- 10 bellecranklever articulatedly connected with said Jection or trigger engageseither the base of the pins and fulcrumed against the side of saidframe, skull or the end of the spine just back of its neck. U said leverhaving an offset arm adapted to en This relatively light pressurereleases the jaws 'the body of the trapped animal and serving to rewhichencircle the neck of the ammal resulting lease said-jaws for engagementabout the neck of in strangling it in a minimum of time. ;-}Ihe .-ten-;w,th trap fid animal. sion of the springs operating thejaws is such thatA er r pp l as set forth in they are propelled togethertcrstop-lboth thecir- 'ilclaim 1,:the'sub-structure compri a settin culation of blood andthe passage of air thrpugh means ,for retaining the levers in operativeposithe trachea, "tion comprising a bracket having guides at its I havefound ,in my trapping work that anganis ca y t h P s having heads. a!trig er nal mayflbethus' executed ina matterofseconds, --articulated-onthe frame having a-portionserving g.;usua;llyyles sit-han onehalgaminutel fBecause'of '--to; retract the pins; and an arm extendingaway thismomplete-and rapid "strangulation" there "is P-ffromfiaidlframeand a pted to enga th i l y very little time for the animal to st fl ele. .ifIhB the pp a 111%511112jaQCQmQISIlBdfIS thgpregarrationof acom- 1MERTON E; CHURCHILL. ffn ctea zupmneturedan iundamaa dinel ll-fiilmf'anddesire to protect-thy Letters 1 REFERENCES CITED -R m1Eliefollowingreferencesharewof reco rd ;in;the

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